Improvement in hydraulic hoisting apparatus



J. R. RITTER.

Hydraulic Hoisting AppartuS.

Patented Nov. 19, 1872.

JAGOB R. RITIER, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA. V

lMPROVEMENT IN HVDRAULIC HOISTING APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 133,257, dated November 19, 1872.

T0 a}l whom z't may concem:

Be it known that I, JACOB R. RITTER, ot Reading, Berks county, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Hydraulic Hoisting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification:

Tbe object of my invention is to produce an hydraulic boisting apparatus for raising and lowering light loads in buildings where steam power or mecbanism for pumping water into the apparatus is not available; and I accomplisb this objeot by combining two communicatin g cylinders, A and B, bavin g pistons and piston-rods, with a boist, D, and weigbt F, as plainly shown in Fig. 1, the weigbt F, which is the motive power for the boist, being secured to the upper end of the -piston-rod of the main cylinder and suspended by a rope or cbain, a, from a windlass, G, by turning which the weight can be elevaced. On releasing the Weight it will act upon the column of water' in the cylinder A beneatb the piston I), and will force the same tbrough the connectingpipe Hinto the cylinder B, the piston and piston-rod d'of wbicb will be elevated, as will a so the boist D, the rope or chain 6 of the latter being acted upon by a pulley, 9, at the upper end of the rod d in snob a manner as to impart double the extent of movement to the iet that is imparted to the said piston-rod. Winen the hoist has been tbus raised toits full extent the weight F will cease to descend, and, when desired, the boist can be lowercd by its own weigbt by simply tnrning the three-way cool: f in the connectingpipe H to such a position as to permit the water beneatb the piston in the cylinder B to flow out of tbe latter, through the connecting-pipe and tbrough a discbarge-pipe, I, into the cylinder A above the piston.

Tbe smoothness and regularity of motion of the boist and otber advantages attained by the use of the weigbt as a motive power are so fully described in a separate application Whicb I have made for a patent tbat fnrtber allusion to them bore will be unnecessary.

The returnin g of the water into the cylinder A after utilizing the same in the cylinder B obviates the necessity of pumping afresh stipply into the former cylinder and enables the apparatus to be operated With a very limited quantity of water. The latter, when the piston I) and weight are elevated, will pass through an opening in the said piston covered by a check-valve, h, opening downward into the lower portions of the cylinder, so that when the piston again descends the water may be forced in to the oylinder B to again elevate the hoist. It will be understood that the number of times the boist can be elevated by one descent of the weight F will depend *upon the relative capacities of the two cylinders.

Tbe weight is, as before mentioned, elet*ated by winding its rope or chain a npon a windlass, G, and the latter is released in order that it may turn freely and thus permit the descent of the weight bmeans of a clutcb and lever, i, which connect it to the weigbt-elevating ap pliances. The latter may be a simple pnlley upon the windlass-shait when power can be obtained, but this apparatus has been designed more especially for use in warehouses and stores where power is not available; and in snob case I prefer to use the devices illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 for turning the windlass and elevating the weigbt by band. Tbese consist of a double ratcbetwheel, j, hung to the windlass-sbaft and operated by two long pawls, k and 75, held against the ratchet by Vibrating arms l and bang to an operating-lever, m, ais eitber side of its fulcrnm n, so that the said pawls may act alternately and thus turn the ratchet-wheel nearly continuously when the lever is vibrated first in one direction and then in the otber. Tbe leverage gained by the use of this mechanism is such that a Very heavy weight can be slowly raised With comparatively little exertion.

Two or more cylinders, B, may be combined With one cylinder, A, and weigbt for the purpose of operating separate hoists. In Fig. 1, for instance, an additional cylinder, B, and hoist D are represented. The latter is, in the present instance, connected directly to the piston-rod of its cylinder, and would be only available for elevating goods from the cellar to the first floor of a building or from one story to another.

VVbere economy of space is an object, and

said stair-way being mounted on wheels or otherwise arrayed so that it can be moved to one side to make way for the elevacor.

Another plan of operating two hoists simultaneously from a single cylinder, B, is illustrated in Fig. 3. In this case the supplement ary hoist D is coupled 130 the hoist D by a rope or chain, y, passed around pulleys in a manner which Will be readfly underscood withont ex 2. Tixe combination, substantially as de soribed, with the cylinder A and weight of a piston, b, furnished with a check-valve, and a waterdischarge pipe or pipes, I, communicating With the said cylinder above the piston.

3. The combinabion, substantial]y as described, of a cylinder, B, and hoist, D with a movable st-air-way, K, for the purpose set forth.

4:. The combination of the cylinder B and the hoiscs D D coupled together and open ated by the cylinder, as set forth.

5. The 11056 M, connected to and communi oating With the cylinder A or with a pipe leading therefrom, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in the presence of two subscribing witnesse&

J. R. RITTER;

Witnesses:

WILLIAM P. BARD, WASHINGTON R;CIIARDS. 

